# Tire Repairers and Changers

US SOC code 49-3093. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/49-3093

Also called: Tire technician, Tire installer, Tire changer, Tire service technician, Lube and tire tech.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **108,410** US tire repairers and changers, with median pay of **$37,710** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the highest was **114,690**, in May 2017. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.richmondfed.org/publications/research/econ_focus/2003/winter/economic_history) of **231,000** from 1929, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for tire repairers and changers: TPMS sensor service, 2006 to 2024. The TPMS mandate increased per-vehicle service time and revenue at tire shops, supporting employment by expanding billable work per customer.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=49-3093&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **0%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Tire Repairers and Changers employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1905
- Latest US employment: 108,410 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [5]
- Latest US median pay: $37,710 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [8]
- Outlook: +3.4% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [19]

### All 27 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1929 | 231,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Richmond Fed [1] |
| 1954 | 85,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., IPUMS USA [2] |
| 1975 | 71,000 (estimate) | $8,500 (estimate) | Est., Bureau of Labor Statistics (employment) [3]; Est., BLS Industry Wage Survey (pay) [6] |
| 2000 | 90,000 (estimate) | $22,000 (estimate) | Est., O\*NET OnLine (employment) [4]; Est., CareerOneStop (pay) [7] |
| 2003 | 82,340 | $20,830 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [5] |
| 2004 | 87,110 | $20,810 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [5] |
| 2005 | 100,860 | $20,960 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [5] |
| 2006 | 103,120 | $21,340 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [5] |
| 2007 | 100,510 | $21,880 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [5] |
| 2008 | 98,520 | $22,460 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [5] |
| 2009 | 92,440 | $23,120 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [5] |
| 2010 | 94,120 | $23,170 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [5] |
| 2011 | 94,740 | $23,440 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [5] |
| 2012 | 96,880 | $23,410 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [5] |
| 2013 | 99,370 | $23,590 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [5] |
| 2014 | 100,510 | $23,730 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [5] |
| 2015 | 107,500 | $24,220 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [5] |
| 2016 | 109,350 | $25,040 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [5] |
| 2017 | 114,690 | $26,710 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [5] |
| 2018 | 111,620 | $27,890 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [5] |
| 2019 | 110,880 | $28,640 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [5] |
| 2020 | 98,560 | $30,060 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [5] |
| 2021 | 93,180 | $29,580 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [5] |
| 2022 | 99,980 | $34,240 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [5] |
| 2023 | 101,520 | $35,790 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [5] |
| 2024 | 106,620 | $37,120 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [5] |
| 2025 | 108,410 | $37,710 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [5] |

## Sources (79)

### Employment series

1. [Richmond Fed -- "Wheels of Change: The Automotive Industry's Sweeping Effects on the Fifth District" (1929 service employment data)](https://www.richmondfed.org/publications/research/econ_focus/2003/winter/economic_history), Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
2. [IPUMS USA -- Occupation and Industry Codes: 1950 Census mechanics and repairers classification (automotive service workforce context)](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/occ_ind.shtml), IPUMS / University of Minnesota
3. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook historical reference -- Automotive Repair and Maintenance Workers (1974-1976 editions)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/), Bureau of Labor Statistics
4. [O\*NET OnLine -- 49-3093.00 Tire Repairers and Changers (occupation history and SOC 2000 introduction)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/49-3093.00), O\*NET / BLS
5. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

6. [BLS Industry Wage Survey -- Automotive Repair Services (SIC 753x), 1975 edition (wage context for tire and service workers)](https://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/oews/history.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
7. [CareerOneStop -- Tire Repairers and Changers occupation profile (BLS-derived wage data, 2000 SOC baseline)](https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/Occupations/occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=Tire+Repairers+and+Changers&location=US&onetcode=49-3093.00), CareerOneStop / BLS
8. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Tool eras

9. [Quora -- "How did old tire shops perform the vulcanization process?" (bench vulcanizer history and technique)](https://www.quora.com/How-did-old-tire-shops-actually-perform-the-vulcanization-process-and-what-kind-of-equipment-did-they-use-back-then), Quora / user-submitted historical accounts
10. [HISTORY.com -- "B.F. Goodrich Co. announces development of tubeless tire" (May 11, 1947)](https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-11/b-f-goodrich-co-announces-development-of-tubeless-tire), HISTORY
11. [Haosail Machinery -- "Development and History of Tire Changers" (Coats history, 1920s-1960s pneumatic evolution)](https://www.haosailmachinery.com/news/pMnVX7ljBSbb.html), Haosail Machinery / industry history
12. [PostWarClassic -- "The beginning of tubeless tyres" (history of tubeless adoption on passenger cars)](https://www.postwarclassic.com/the-beginning-of-tubeless-tyres), PostWarClassic
13. [Schrader TPMS Solutions -- "Everything you Need to Know About the TREAD Act" (TREAD Act 2000, phase-in 2005-2007, mandate from 2008)](https://www.schradertpms.com/en/driver-education/everything-you-need-know-about-tread-act), Schrader TPMS Solutions
14. [Wikipedia -- Tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS history, Porsche 959 1987, US mandate timeline)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire-pressure_monitoring_system), Wikipedia
15. [Wikipedia -- Firestone and Ford tire controversy (2000 recall, 192 fatalities, TREAD Act trigger)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firestone_and_Ford_tire_controversy), Wikipedia
16. [Anyline -- "Anyline launches TireBuddy app for tire inspection" (June 2025, 100M inspections by December 2025)](https://anyline.com/news/anyline-launches-tirebuddy-app-to-for-tire-inspection), Anyline
17. [Fleet Maintenance -- "Hunter introduces Road Force WalkAway wheel balancer" (45% time reduction, 2025)](https://www.fleetmaintenance.com/equipment/brakes-tire-and-wheel/news/55327554/hunter-engineering-company-hunter-introduces-timesaving-road-force-walkaway-wheel-balancer), Fleet Maintenance
18. [The Robot Report -- "Automated Tire decloaks SmartBay: autonomous tire-changing system" (May 2026)](https://www.therobotreport.com/automated-tire-decloaks-smartbay-autonomous-tire-changing/), The Robot Report

### Forecasts and exposure studies

19. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 49-3093 Tire repairers and changers (2025: 112.2 thousand; 2035: 116.0 thousand; +3.4%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=49-3093&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
20. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 49-3093.00, human-rated β 0)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

21. [Wikipedia -- Firestone (company): founding 1900, Akron history, Ford supply relationship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firestone_%28company%29), Wikipedia
22. [The Tire Terminal -- "A Brief History of the Automobile Tire" (1904 mountable rims introduction)](https://thetireterminal.com/tires/a-brief-history-of-the-automobile-tire/), The Tire Terminal
23. [HISTORY.com -- "B.F. Goodrich Co. announces development of tubeless tire" (May 11, 1947)](https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-11/b-f-goodrich-co-announces-development-of-tubeless-tire), HISTORY
24. [Wikipedia -- Firestone and Ford tire controversy (2000 recall, 14.4M tires, 192 fatalities, TREAD Act)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firestone_and_Ford_tire_controversy), Wikipedia
25. [Schrader TPMS Solutions -- "Everything you Need to Know About the TREAD Act" (100% compliance from model year 2008)](https://www.schradertpms.com/en/driver-education/everything-you-need-know-about-tread-act), Schrader TPMS Solutions
26. [The Robot Report -- "Automated Tire decloaks SmartBay autonomous tire-changing system" (May 2026)](https://www.therobotreport.com/automated-tire-decloaks-smartbay-autonomous-tire-changing/), The Robot Report

### Predecessors & successors

27. [Richmond Fed -- "Wheels of Change" (service station attendants and garage workers, 1920s-1950s automotive service history)](https://www.richmondfed.org/publications/research/econ_focus/2003/winter/economic_history), Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 -- Tire Repairers and Changers (49-3093.00): tasks, work activities, 113,400 employed, median $37,120, projected 5-6% growth 2024-2034](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/49-3093.00), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Automated Tire SmartBay: AI robotic tire-service platform, May 2026 (The Robot Report)](https://www.therobotreport.com/automated-tire-decloaks-smartbay-autonomous-tire-changing/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Anyline TireBuddy: AI-powered tire inspection app, launched June 2025, 100M inspections by Dec 2025](https://anyline.com/news/anyline-launches-tirebuddy-app-to-for-tire-inspection), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Hunter Engineering Road Force WalkAway: automated wheel balancer cuts 4-tire job time by 45%, 2025](https://www.fleetmaintenance.com/equipment/brakes-tire-and-wheel/news/55327554/hunter-engineering-company-hunter-introduces-timesaving-road-force-walkaway-wheel-balancer), accessed 2026-06-05
- [How Tire Retailers Can Get the Most Out of AI (Modern Tire Dealer, 2025)](https://www.moderntiredealer.com/retail/article/55305212/how-tire-retailers-can-get-the-most-out-of-ai), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 -- GPTs are GPTs (Science): LLM task-exposure by occupation](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Fox News: Automated Tire SmartBay -- AI robot changes tires faster than people, 30 min for 4-tire service](https://www.foxnews.com/tech/ai-robot-changes-tires-balances), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Anyline TireBuddy SEMA 2025 upgrades: AI assistant autofills inspection notes, enhanced scan guidance](https://anyline.com/news/anyline-debuts-tirebuddy-app-upgrades-at-sema-2025), accessed 2026-06-05

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.